Pakistan Navy Opts for Tactical Nuclear Weapons on Conventional Subs to Counter India's Nuclear-Equipped Fleet: Pak Navy Commodore (R)

In a recent interview with Suno Digital, former Commodore Sajid Mehmood Shehzad HI(M) of the Pakistani Navy outlined the nation's strategic approach to submarine warfare and nuclear deterrence.

Shehzad stated that Pakistan has no intention of developing nuclear-powered submarines, believing that conventional submarines equipped with tactical nuclear weapons provide an equally effective deterrent.

This strategy centers around the Babur cruise missile, a submarine-launched weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. By deploying these missiles on its existing fleet of conventionally powered submarines, Pakistan aims to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent without the significant financial and technological burden associated with developing and maintaining nuclear-powered submarines.

Shehzad also took the opportunity to criticize India's pursuit of a nuclear submarine fleet, deeming it an unnecessary expenditure in light of the country's widespread poverty.

He further argued that India's lack of global naval bases limits the operational range of its submarine fleet, rendering the investment strategically questionable.

This statement offers insight into Pakistan's naval doctrine, which prioritizes cost-effective solutions to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent against its regional rival.

While Pakistan currently operates conventionally powered attack submarines, including the French Agosta and the newer Chinese Hangor-class, it has consistently emphasized the development of its nuclear-capable missile systems as a cornerstone of its defense strategy.

 

[Vipul Verma]

Mr Shehzad Indians know how concerned you are for poverty. Hence your Country is purchasing 75 Fc-31s from Chinese when majority of Pakistanis struggle for making ends meet. We also know your competence in the Geostrategic thinking, how you depend upon Americans & Chinese for survival. Pakistan neither has the capabilities, nor strategic requirements for Nuclear powered SSBNs. India has a powerful rival in China with big underwater fleet. Chinese are also making concentrated efforts in improving & upgrading their nuclear submarines (SSBNs) armed with long range nuclear warhead carrying ballistic missiles. Chinese have been working on development of SSNs since their conventional submarines are noisy. PLA navy will induct 6-7 carriers by 2040. To Counter Chinese nuclear adventure it's imminent for India to develop & indict large force of SSBNs capable of remaining hidden in locations far away from Chinese anti submarine assets. India is also developing 12k range SLBM K-6 for larger S-5 class SSBN that will provide India with safe & assured second strike capabilities against entire China. As regards SSNs India must develop & induct atleast 10-12 assets to build formidable sea denial capabilities to counter 5-6 Chinese carrier groups in IOR.

 

[kumar]

Surprising this man advises India to spend money on poverty alleviation instead of nuke subs.
Entire Pak army,navy and PAF is a waste as far as Pak is concerned. These 3 eats most of the Pak's GDP which is already bankrupt.
Why not India strengthen its Navy when a bankrupt beggar is having one?

 

[Sandeep]

It’s obvious that they want and need a nuclear submarine but are too delusional, dumb, ignorant, poor, bankrupt or educated to design and develop their own submarine but nobody else will help them to make a valuable and strategic weapon.

India needs these nuclear submarines to use against China and cover the entire Indian Ocean. The threat from China is only going to increase so we need a large underwater force that can kill their carrier battle groups.

 

[Krishnendu Chatterjee]

We need nuclear subs to counter china-threat. Pak commander is right to think Pakistan poses no threat to India.

 

[Jyoti Shankar Roy Choudhury]

Yes, our main adversary in the region is China. I donno why people are fixated on Pakistan so much.

In a war scenario, Pakistan IS China. It has Chinese ships, Chinese weaponry, Chinese subs and they will be a part of Chinese strategy.

 

[desigandu]

Pakistan is an irritant that needs to be constantly managed…The big threat they pose is a Chinese naval base at Gwadar and Chinas CPEC access to the Arabian sea, when combined with Chinas base in Djibouti can threaten Indian dominance and give China an option in case of Malacca problems…Thus medium to long term the best solution is to balkanize Pakistan and destabilize it heavily to attack and destroy Chinese citizens and infrastructure inside Pakistan…

Our goal must be to make Baluchistan an independent country and align with its and Afghanistan interests, while creating massive unrest’s inside GB…

Indias main enemy is China and our focus must be a navy that can dominate and control IOR, so if/when China attacks/blockades Taiwan, we can block SLOCs for Chinese oil imports and material exports…That is why we need 4 CBGs, 6-8 SSNs and about 24 modern SSKs - which can only happen starting 2035-2040, given our budgets and pace of construction…

China will make a move on Taiwan during Xis next term which starts in 2027, and thus we must be ready…

As for Pakistans J31s, which will start coming in 2030, we don’t have good solutions unless we can before 2030 get 36-72 more F4 Rafales and at least 35-48 F35s…Yes the Americans will have conditions but if Trump wins on Nov 5 we could negotiate for them, as our own AMCA won’t arrive before 2035…

 

[Anant Juwatkar]

India is not going to attack until pak disturb people near boarder. India alway obey laws, as per law India will not attack with neucler weapons, till such kind of massive disaster from pak. Hence India will utilize necular utility whenever any nuclear warship like from us, france like west culture country interfer in india ocean Hence it is essential for Shanti in Indian Ocean. India even don't need more than 4 to 5 palnes incombinatin with intelligent missiles can distroy pakistan with in day if decided.
But humanity law towards independance of all leavinig beaing (in Sanskrit Dharm) don't permits it hence pakistan don't have to worry at all any technical upgradation of India.

 

[IridiumInd]

While overall I disagree with the navy officer's views on nuclear sub operation it is worth introspecting the drawbacks of not having any forward operation bases abroad. Our future as a capable power should reflect in our deployment capabilities abroad. With China enforcing it's sting of pearls l, we'll have to improve our very own deployment radius around China and other potential challengers to our sovereignty

 

[buggy 007]

I think India needs 3 S5 class submarines which can roam around Chinese waterS. current Arihant class is good only for IOR

 

[Puneet]

It's a classic case of sour grapes. They can't afford it so they don't like it. Even Azerbaijan initially mocked Indian weapons supplied to Armenia and later protested when realizing the potency of the weapons.

 

[BCharlie]

China has many more nuclear powered SSN than us.. many more.. but yes by having 4 in the indian ocean by next 3-4 years will be a big deterrent

As of end of 2022 China has total of 60 subs, out of which six are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, another six are nuclear-powered attack submarines and have 48 diesel-powered attack submarines.

 

[Troll Animal]

So-called pakistani experts/naval officers play only bluff and pointless, logicless arguments 😅😅
Their calculations have failed in each war they tried to fight with India!
They even lost half of their land in 1971

Still, their itch is not gone.
I guess next up is Balochistan, Sindh and KPK to get independence, only then punjabi pakistanis will learn a brutal lesson 🎯

 

[Shantan Mishra]

You don't have expertise to build one. Even your akka china don't have a good nuclear powered one.

India is not in competition with Pakistan, who is left far behind now. Our weapons are to defend our country against Chinese aggressive reach.

 

[Sanjiv Mathur]

If this gentleman thinks Pakistan is the centre of India's universe, he's right. But he might be better informed if he checked with India first.

 

[Hari Sharma]

PAK had such people commanding their NAVY? It seems this person has no idea about the advantages of a nuclear submarine. Also India is not equipping to fight Pakistan...

 

[Saswata Maulik]

If India has to gain respect and provide leadership to the world, it has to become equally powerful if not more powerful than the world powers at present. A pacifist and 'this much is ok' type thinking and approach to nation building is useless and self defeating completely. India has to make its economic and military might keeping the above in mind. For India, dominating the Indian Ocean Region is a dire necessity to start with then slowly it has to set up based in different parts of the world and everything shall be planned keeping this goal in mind. At the end of the day, the world respects only one thing and that is nation power. If India can become an economic and military giant, world will follow India and its views will be taken seriously.

 

[Shubham]

I personally believe, India should make smaller nuclear submarine, like French Rubis class. ( below 3000 t), but modified. Brahmos and heavy weight torpedoes are only armaments.

Anything below atleast 6-7k tonnes is not a nuclear submarine..France struggles to operate their SSNs whereas British, Russians and Americans deploy them for long time..India's decision to make 10k tonne SSN is commendable..those subs should carry 32 VLS cells for Brahmos and Nirbhay..even West would raise their eyebrows then

 

[S. Ananthanarayanan]

Ex Cmdr Shehzad has a point. The value of a nuclear sub is not that it can launch a nuclear missile (in fact, it may not even be able to), it is just that it does not require frequent refuelling, or exposure in taking air, for an ic engine.
This was a perceived advantage decades ago, but is really not any more.
on the other hand, it involves complex technology, and is the technician's dream, rather than a military assetm

 

[lindu delusional]

Look who is talking lindus saying rivals china in ocean they are now biggest navy in the ocean with big air craft fifth generation jet and a lindu say china does has nuke sub hahahah check google China: The Chinese Navy, or PLAN, is the world’s largest by fleet size, boasting over 350 ships, including advanced destroyers, frigates, and two active aircraft carriers, with a third under construction. China's submarine fleet is extensive, with over 60 submarines, including both nuclear-powered and conventional models, enhancing its global power projection.

India: The Indian Navy is smaller, with around 130-150 ships, including the INS Vikramaditya and the newly commissioned INS Vikrant aircraft carriers. India has around 15 submarines, including nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines like INS Arihant and Scorpène-class conventional submarines, focusing mainly on security in the Indian Ocean Region.

 

[Avatar]

For some reason Pakistanis like to think that everything that India does is becaus eof them. India has bigger fish to fry with China on it's northern border and the string of pearls in other Indian Ocean regions. India's nuclear attack will be able to deter Pakistani navy, but it is primarily geared to wards threats form China and to detere Chinese adventurism in the IOR.